Method and apparatus for tissue grafting and copying

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for obtaining a plurality of portions of tissue from a biological tissue, comprising:
 a plurality of tubes comprising at least two points provided at a distal end thereof; 
 a plurality of pins each provided at least partially within a central lumen of each of the plurality of tubes; and 
 a biocompatible matrix configured to be placed on a donor site associated with the biological tissue, 
 wherein an inner diameter of the tubes is less than about 1 mm, 
 wherein at least one section of the tubes is structured to be inserted into the biological tissue at the donor site to simultaneously remove the portions of tissue therefrom when the at least one section of the tubes is withdrawn from the donor site, 
 wherein the tubes are controllably translatable in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the pins, and 
 wherein the pins are configured to facilitate a removal of the portions of tissue from the tubes and deposit the portions of tissue directly in the biocompatible matrix. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the tubes is less than about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of tubes comprises at least three points provided at the distal end thereof. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one positioning arrangement configured to control a position of at least one pin within at least one of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a substrate including at least one opening therethrough, wherein at least one tube is slidably coupled to the substrate and configured to pass at least partially through the at least one opening. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a first actuator configured to control a position of at least one tube relative to the substrate, and a second actuator configured to control a position of at least one pin within the at least one tube. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes comprises at least six tubes. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the tubes are provided in at least one of a rectangular array or a linear configuration with respect to one another. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor arrangement configured to detect a presence of the portion of tissue within at least one tube. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an angle between a lateral side of the points and a longitudinal axis of at least one tube is less than about 15 degrees. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible matrix comprises at least one of polyactic acid, collagen, low-melting agarose, hyaluronic acid, hyaluranon, or devitalized skin tissue.